Aftificial price increase of the items in order to charge more fees from you

[gvrider]

Hi,

I'm selling an item for $36 + $34 for shipping. After the item was purchased the value of the item increased to $51.68 in the fee system. Screenshot: https://prnt.sc/Nsxy7fLOtWXT (insert image works in a broken way). 

This is what I found:

- Shipping and handling $7.50

- Import tax  $8.18

The end value of the item increased to $51.68.  I was surprised a lot. It increases the cost of the item and results in a higher final fee charged by eBay.

I did ask the customer support agent about those fees and how is it related to my sale. The first agent was not able to answer and was avoiding that question (yes, I did ask him 3 times about it). And he was sending me to the page with the fee policy. But guess what? There's not a single word explaining from where the "Import tax" and "Shipping and handling" are coming from (Screenshot #1: https://prnt.sc/JYmXf8wg26fq and #2: https://prnt.sc/TKY8IW5z_WmI). Ended up asking for a supervisor. And found that those are "mandatory fees". So I can't change the final value of the items. 

Now:

1) eBay has nothing to do with Import Tax. eBay does not import anything, neither my client nor myself

2) eBay won't handle the shipping and neither my client. I've received a set amount of money to do it on my own

Instead of having just one "service fee" for using eBay, we've got this kind of hidden way of making money on the Seller. Poor way of doing business in my opinion.

Guess what? Other sellers are increasing the cost of the items, dramatically to avoid dealing with eBay. But will leave the cost of the item on their site as normal. So instead of buying the item on eBay, the client will go directly to the seller's page. Free advertising from the side of eBay. EXAMPLE - Screenshot 1: https://prnt.sc/th7YkQrcoTDm  Screenshot 2: https://prnt.sc/flgDDv_dNi-F 

And I should open my own shop just to sell 1 item? To get 10% off on those magical fees?

[Anonymous]

"Instead of having just one "service fee" for using eBay, we've got this kind of hidden way of making money on the Seller. Poor way of doing business in my opinion."

Here's the secret to selling on eBay as an American. ONLY SELL TO 50 US STATES and THAT IS IT. Don't even sell to Canada or Mexico. Uncheck alllllllll those territories (like Guam/Puerto Rico) and every other continent/country listed for each listing.

It's literally not worth it to sell internationally and if the buyer wants a return/tries something sketchy...you really wanna be on the hook for shipping BACK to you? And shipping internally always takes longer anyways, so that's more time you must wait to get paid/have the transaction complete.

I have bought a few items from the UK and Australia and Canada before (and some cheapo stuff from China), but I always buy expecting delivery to take forever and to accept I have to be happy with the product 'cuz I ain't sending it back if I have to pay. And the import taxes/fees scare me a bit now, so I'm even more reluctant. Don't wanna order an item and then find out I owe the post office $15 before I can get the item.